Sixth Sunday of Easter.

Sixth Sunday of Easter.

Seminarians, as part of their formation, do a ‘pastoral year’ during which they are assigned to a parish to ‘learn the ropes.’ As a Seminarian I was assigned to St. Paul’s, helping Fr. Tad Walczyk. I arrived in Alliston at the end of August 2005 and stayed until the summer of 2006. I was involved in all the parish ministries. I visited the schools regularly and the nursing homes. I made many friends here. It was indeed a very good year.

It is sometimes the case that Seminarians find the transition back to the Seminary a little difficult, especially getting back into the routine of study. For myself, that was not a problem, but I found that, although I would be busy and happy all day, when I was on my own, praying in the chapel, I would feel a deep sadness. This troubled me because there was no evident cause for it. Everything in my life was fine. I could not understand why I was experiencing this sadness. Finally, I figured it out. It was grief. I had spent an entire year with people with whom I had developed close relationships, and now that was abruptly ended. It was perfectly normal that I should grieve over that loss. In fact, there would have been something wrong with me if I did not feel sad under those circumstances. Knowing the cause did not make the sadness go away, but I was able to deal with it as a normal human reaction to separation.

Over the last few weeks I have been experiencing some of that same kind of sadness. It is natural for us to feel grief when we have been separated from family and friends. As this lockdown drags on, I am sure that many people are feeling the same way, and many are feeling it much more deeply. The elderly, especially, must be feeling completely abandoned by their families. During these times, when we are all feeling sad and discouraged, we need to be reminded that ‘this too shall pass.’ The dawn comes at last, be the night ever so long.

Given the great tragedy of so many deaths during this pandemic, it would be callous to look for a ‘silver lining.’ But we do need to remember that it is during these difficult times that God is most with us. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”!

We are all looking forward to summer weather. But sometimes we need cold rainy days. Here’s an analogy: I have always done my mom’s garden and we always plant tomatoes. Usually, the challenge is to keep the plants from wilting away under the stress of the hot sun. One year, after planting, we had a full week of overcast and drizzle. It was perfect conditions for the tomatoes to get established. When the sun finally came out, they absolutely flourished. This lockdown is like that dreary wet weather. It is the time for us to develop our roots, to draw on our inner resources, and to become ever more grounded in our faith. When this crisis has passed, those strong roots will allow us to put forth sturdy branches and abundant fruit.